AARP

AARP (formerly American Association of Retired Persons) is a U.S. nonprofit organization representing people age 50 years and older, with 37 million members.[1] The national headquarters is in Washington, D.C. with local offices in each state. AARP provides information of interest to older people through publications such as the monthly AARP Bulletin and the bimonthly AARP The Magazine, advocates on public policy issues by doing extensive lobbying, and along with business partners sells auto, homeowners and life insurance, long-term health care insurance, and Medicare supplement insurance.

Membership dues accounted for just under $200 million of AARP's $1.4 billion in revenue in 2014, while royalties from business partners provided nearly $800 million.[2]

Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council

AARP was a "Trustee's Level" sponsor of ALEC's 2016 annual meeting held July 27-29 in Indianapolis, Indiana, according to a program obtained by the Center for Media and Democracy. Attendees also each received "an AARP branded portable USB power pack" at registration.[3] After "a torrent of protests from members and advocacy groups," as described by the L.A. Times, AARP announced on August 5, 2016 that it would not renew its membership.[4][5]

The L.A. Times contacted AARP for a statement about its relationship to ALEC:

On Monday [August 1, 2016], in response to our queries, AARP gave a bit more detail on its relationship with ALEC while reiterating, "AARP’s engagement with ALEC is NOT an endorsement of the organization’s policies either past or present." It specifically disavowed support for ALEC model bills seeking a constitutional amendment for a balanced federal budget, which is a direct attack on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid; the repeal of the Affordable Care Act; nor the other model legislation posted on ALEC’s website. AARP has advocated in opposition of these proposals in the states and in Congress and will continue to do so." ALEC hasn’t responded to our request for comment.

AARP’s statement acknowledged that it paid a fee to ALEC in 2016 to provide "an opportunity to engage with state legislators and advance our members’ priorities from a position of strength at ALEC’s annual meeting." AARP added, "given that Republicans control one or more chambers in 39 of the nation’s 50 state legislatures, we believe having a seat at the table at the ALEC annual meeting was necessary to our mission of representing the interests and needs of people 50-plus and their families."[6]

According to an August 2013 ALEC board document obtained by The Guardian, AARP had terminated its ALEC membership on April 16, 2013.[7]

About ALEC

ALEC is a corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy's ALECexposed.org, and check out breaking news on our PRWatch.org site.

Federal Lobbying

AARP reported $3,890,000 in federal lobbying expenses in the first half of 2016, and $7,559,000 in 2015.[8]